Asking for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships! I’ve written about what to understand when looking to get one, my concerns with the modern apprenticeship system, and made so much content about them that I have a dedicated page on my website just to share that education. But one particular social interaction surrounding them that seems to confuse folks is this- asking for an apprenticeship. See, in the piercing industry, there is an unwritten social dance surrounding apprenticeships and the processes of getting one. And it all starts with the ask.

For many, their first attempt at getting an apprenticeship is a cold call. This is an unsolicited call or interaction in an attempt to gain something from the person, in this instance an apprenticeship. Virtually every piercer and studio I know gets anywhere from a few of these a month to nearly daily or weekly inquiries. They are often fairly polite, sometimes entitled, and always….unwelcome. It’s often folks who do not know us or our studios or how we work, sometimes people who have never met us in person or been into our spaces, emailing or calling us out of the blue asking for us to make a massive financial, emotional, and physical investment in them and their future. It’s akin to emailing your favorite NFL team and asking to be drafted. Cold calling leaves a bad taste in most folks' mouths, and many folks either ignore these messages or give a canned response.

But that NFL draft metaphor- the NFL has structured, easily accessible information about how to apply to be on the team. The process is transparent. In piercing, it’s not the same. It’s this amorphic thing….there aren’t the same structured set of methods to apply for an apprenticeship. So how do we get one?

Apprentices Start as Clients

The classic and time-honored method of getting an apprenticeship is starting as a client. Getting pierced by someone, showing that you are interested in piercing, care about quality and safe piercing, and building a relationship with your potential mentor. The mentor/apprentice relationship is an essential one, and it’s very important that both parties get along and get along well. Starting as a client allows you to build that foundation and get to know the piercer, and for them to get to know you. This also allows you to show your commitment to safe piercing practices, the care you take with your own body and the respect you show the craft. This should not be something that is financially motivated (ex. Someone who spends more money at a studio gets considered more). It’s not about spending money at the shop, it's about building that relationship with the staff. Most apprentices I know who start this way actually couldn’t afford gold or very decorative pieces and mostly got pierced with simple designs in titanium and niobium. But their passion and drive for piercing shone through.

However, this is only one way a good client/piercer relationship may lead to an apprenticeship. Even if the piercer in question is not taking apprentices or already has one, making a good impression can go a long way as far as networking is concerned. I had a regular client while I worked in Nashville who I knew was passionate about an apprenticeship. They regularly made a decent drive to come to the studio to get pierced, they interacted with our posts on social media when I suggested books or documentaries they watched and read them. They had the passion and the fire. But, we already had an apprentice at that studio and another person waiting. They wouldn’t be able to train there for a long time. However, while on the road I guested with a friend who was discussing the struggle he had had in his area with finding apprenticeship candidates. I brought up my client and said they would be a perfect fit. At my encouragement, they made a detour on their trip out to California to visit my friend's studio and meet him. My friend was so impressed with that dedication and passion that he offered my formed client a job. They are now in the early stages of their apprenticeship and have done their first few piercings, and I couldn’t be more proud of them. Their dedication and passion shone so brightly that even though I couldn’t work with them in Nashville, I still thought of them and brought up their name in rooms that eventually led to an apprenticeship.

Building this type of connection with piercers and industry members is vital networking to getting into this industry and getting a quality apprenticeship, and is in my opinion the best way to pursue this. Even if piercers in your area aren’t able to take an apprentice right this moment, if they are impressed enough by you and your passion and work ethic, I assure you they will keep you in mind in the future.

Reality Check- Some Must Cold Call

I am not ignorant of the world or the industry in 2025. Many folks are passionate about piercings and live nowhere near a quality piercer or studio to visit. Many have no access to this kind of education and experience. And many can not up and move to a city or region with good piercers on the hope of maybe in a few years becoming an apprentice. Some folks have no choice but to reach out to piercers and see what may come. So what would I do, if I were in that kind of situation, and still hungry for an apprenticeship?

Well, first I would research. I would follow lots of quality piercers online, learn about industry minimum standards, and learn what type of piercer I wanted to be. Then I would learn about the history of the industry- I have a handy media list here that is quite comprehensive for those looking to learn, with many books accessible via the library or online downloads. I would start interacting with those piercers I follow on social media- commenting and asking good questions on their posts, sharing work, and DM’ing them to ask questions when I had them. I might ask about something cool they posted or for their recommendations on media to check out.

I would get pierced at least a few times, even if it meany saving up and taking a bus or train to get to a safe piercer (I once stocked shelves for an entire summer to save up to take the train and two busses and get pierced by AJ Goldman. It was worth it.) I would try to make as much of a connection with the piercers I met in person as I could, and In would ask their advice for getting into the industry in my area.

I would also learn other skills that are relevant to piercing. I would learn photography, especially macro and portrait photography. I might take business classes and understand how to run a business. I would take anatomy classes, and phlebotomy lessons, and learn about social media management and the algorithms, short format content, graphics design and marketing. I would try to build a skill set that applies to the industry. I would work in food or customer service, to gain the experience of working with other humans and managing customers.

And then, after I had interacted with a pierced a bit online, I would consider sending them a message. Not asking for an apprenticeship, but asking for their advice. I would make a creative and interesting resume detailing the work I have done, the history I have learned, and the skills I bring to the table. (I did this once. Not your average resume- I applied for front of house at a studio when I was 19 with a small booklet featuring jewelry photography I did at home with my own jewelry, example Instagram posts I would make, and concepts for website updates for the studio. I did end up getting the job, and was told my resume was “annoyingly well done.” A point of pride even today). And I would prepare myself to hear no and not take it personally, as well as not let it defeat me. There will be many many “no’s” before there can be a yes.

If I were looking to get into the industry these days, I would do everything I could to start out as a good client, and barring that I would dedicate myself to building the skills to be a standout apprentice. Especially considering that any studio worth its salt gets dozens if not hundreds of applications every year. To stand out amongst that takes someone who is exceptional, driven, skilled, and passionate. Maybe that is you, reader, or maybe that will become you in the coming months and years. Whatever the case, I can say this industry is worth the fight and effort it takes to make it here. Hopefully, this blog post, and my other resources, can help you on your journey.

<3

Lynn